Why Motorcycle is not Accelerating

Why Motorcycle is not Accelerating

Many bike lovers buy motorcycles for the love of high speeds as the wind rushes through their bodies. For one to move from a standby position to get to high speeds that you want, the bike needs to accelerate. In some instances you may push the bike to accelerate and it does. The lack/hesitate of bike accelerating may be caused by a wide range of reasons.  Now that is what we are going to look at here. What are these reasons why your bike is not accelerating even when you instruct it to?

Acceleration System of a Motorcycle

Before we get to why your bike is not accelerating, let us look at a bike’s accelerating system. In motorcycles, almost everything is manned using the handle bar. The handle bar has various buttons, it acts a steering control and its right ends can be turned. In this case we are going to focus on the right end of the handle which when turned causes acceleration. In most scenarios it is referred top as the throttle

The throttle is normally connected to the engine through a cable known as the throttle cable. When you accelerate your bike, the throttle cable causes the butterfly valve to open. The more one accelerates, the more this particular valve opens up. While doing this, air and fuel from the carburetor flows to this valve.

A carburetor is the device in motorcycles that sis responsible for the proper mixing of air and fuel. It is this mixture that causes the bike to move. However before it actually moves, combustion must take place. The part of a vile that is responsible for causing combustion is a spark plug. The spark plug does this by igniting the air and fuel mixture which then causes the pistons it move down.

The pistons are connected to crankshaft making the gears turn which is attached to the bike’s chain. This interconnected system is what causes the bike to move faster. Basically with every turn of the throttle, this entire process happens more rapidly. This then causes increased bike speeds commonly known as acceleration.

Cause of Motorcycle not Accelerating

Knowing how the acceleration system works helps you understand the causes easily. In essence, in the event that you notice the bike is not accelerating, you will know where to start. All in all, let us look at the common reasons as to why your bike is not accelerating.

1. Worn Out and/or Dirty Spark Plugs

As earlier stated, spark plugs are responsible for igniting the air and fuel mixture. This is what causes combustion in the engine making it start running. In the event that the handle bars are turned/twisted, this process takes place quickly. This in in turn makes the bike move faster.

When your bike is not accelerating, one of the reasons could be that the spark plugs are worn out. Basically, it has lost its effectiveness in causing a spark. When this happens, it is unable to cause an ignition. If there is no ignition, the bike does not accelerate.

In other instances, the spark plug’s condition may be in great shape, but it is filled with dirt. Most of the time, you will find that carbon and oil residues have built up on the spark plug electrodes. This not urn affects the ignition negatively. If the ignition is affected, so is the acceleration of the bike.

2. Faulty/Broken Carburetor Spring

The carburetor spring is a small but very integral part of the functioning of the bike. It is so important that when it has any malfunction, the bike’s overall performance is affected. This spring is located where the throttle cable and joins the carburetor. The carburetor spring main function is to control the opening of the butterfly valve. Remember the butterfly valve is integral in facilitating your bike’s acceleration.

In the event that this spring is broke/spoilt then it will not open the butterfly valve. If the valve does not open, air does not rush in. This then causes the bike to have a lot of fuel in the engine and not enough air to mix with it. It is this improper mixture of air-and fuel that hinders acceleration.

3. Dirty Carburetor

The bike’s movement depends on the carburetor ability to mix air and fuel properly. In the event that this does not happens issues kike inability to accelerate arise.  So what makes the air and fuel not to mix the required proportions?

There are many reason that may cause the improper mixing of air and fuel. One of these causes is when the carburetor is dirty. In essence when the passage and jets in the carburetor are clogged with dirt, air and fuel do not move freely. If these two fluids are unable to move into the engine properly, there is improper supply. This then results in no acceleration because combustion will not take place as it should.

4. Issues with the Throttle Cable

The throttle cable usually connects the engine (carburetor and the throttle). It is integral in the functioning if the bike as it plays various functions. One, it determines how wide the butterfly valve needs to open. It also in charge of controlling the times in which it is supposed to be closed or opened. All of these are highly depended on how fast or slow you as the rider want to go.

When the throttle cable has issues, it translates to poor or no acceleration at all. One of the throttle cable issues that can cause this is excess slack. Excess slack on the cable, especially on the part it connects to the carburetor. If this happens, the cable does not give the butterfly valve a full pull. This the results in improper opening if the butterfly valve. Improper opening of the butterfly valve then results in uneven mixing of air and fuel. This then prevents the bike from accelerating.

Solutions

1. Consult a Mechanic (Worn Out/Dirty Spark Plugs)

If you feel like your bike’s spark plugs are worn out consult a mechanic. The same goes when the bike’s failure to accelerate is caused by dirty spark plugs. A mechanic will exmine the plugs and advise you on the way forward. If he/she finds a problem there, the most definite choice would be to replace them with new ones. If he/she feels like they are in good condition and just dirty, he/she will clean them for you.

2. Replace the Carburetor Spring (Faulty/Broken Carburetor Spring)

There is a good chance that the acceleration issues of your bike are as a result of a broke b carburetor spring. Before actually coming to this conclusion, it is good that you run a quick diagnostic test to be sure. One way of confirming this by following these few steps;

1. Turn of off the bike,
2. Remove the air box

• You then turn the throttle as look through to the carburetor. As you do this, your focus should be on the butterfly valve. If you notice that it does not open, then you know that the spring is faulty.

The next cause of action at this stage, is to replace the spring.

3. Clean Your Motorcycle Carburetor (Dirty Carburetor)

If you notice that your bike is not accelerating, may be it is because your carburetor is dirty. The best thing to do is clean the carburetor. If you have the right skills to do is, just pick up the right tools and equipment and do it yourself. However, if you know you do not possess the knowledge to clean it, do not proceed. Just take it to someone who will do it for you properly.

4. Tightening the Nut above the Knob (Issues with the Throttle Cable)

For you to fix throttle cable issues, you need to first examine it. You can do this by turning the throttle when the bike is of and examining the butterfly valves. If these valves do not open with a full throttle twist then, there are high chances the cable has an issue. In most cases, it has an extra slack.

You can fix this by is tightening the nut that is above the knob that connects the carburetor and the end of the cable. In as much as tightening is a solution to most bikes with such issues, it does not fix this issues in older bikes. Basically, in older bikes, the throttle cable usually stretches. Therefore tightening the nut will have no effect at all.  The only option one has in such an instance is to replace the throttle cable with a new one.

Conclusion

Turning the throttle and accelerating your bike through the highway is simply amazing. Hence in case your bike does not cooperate, you can get frustrated. There are various reasons that may cause this. Sometimes, it may because the carburetor is dirty. In other instances it may be due to excess slack in the throttle cable. It may even be caused by faulty carburetor spring or worn out spark plug. Whatever the case, it is important to run a diagnostic test and find the root. If you can fix the issues yourself, for it, if not consult a mechanic.